Poker game with side bet and method for playing

ABSTRACT

A poker side bet and the method of playing the same can be added to 7 card casino games such as Texas Hold&#39;Em and other poker-style games as a way of allowing the casino to increase betting and participate in the outcomes of each player&#39;s poker hand. The side bet can be applied to live poker play as well as interne poker play with multiple players or individual machine poker play. In the side bet method each player is allowed to place a side bet at the beginning of each poker hand. The side bet is separate from the poker pot for the given hand that is wagered between and among the individual players. The side bet is a bet with the casino/house. The side bet is a wager that the player&#39;s optimum hand, formed from the player&#39;s personal cards and community cards, will merit a payout based on a published payout schedule. The casino sets the payout schedule, and the casino can do so in a manner so as to entice side betting by, for example, granting large payouts for those hands that are difficult to achieve. The side bet is evaluated at the conclusion of the hand and in this way a player who has folded during the hand can still participate in the side bet. This increases a player&#39;s entertainment and interest while also increasing betting for the casino.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to gaming. More particularly the presentinvention relates to a system and method of placing wagers or bettingwith respect to poker-style casino games. Still more specifically, thepresent invention relates to wagers or betting with respect to apoker-style casino game, including wagers in which the houseparticipates in the wager.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Casino gambling is a popular pass time. Among the popular casino gamesis poker. In particular the seven card poker games, especially the gamecalled Texas Hold'Em, is a widely popular casino card game. As currentlyplayed in the casino environment, the casino hosts poker games althoughthe betting occurs among and between the players themselves. The casinomay charge a fee to each player in order to play poker; however, thecasino does not participate insofar as the chance aspect of the game isconcerned. The casino's winnings do not increase or decrease dependingon what hand a player or players receives, for example.

Casinos generally prefer to promote games in which the “house”, i.e.,the casino itself, benefits from a statistical advantage in the possibleoutcomes of the games. Indeed, the casino's profit generallyderives—insofar as just the gambling component of the business isconcerned—from the mathematical probability that more outcomes willfavor the house. (Of course a casino can also generate profits fromnon-gambling business lines such as the hotel, retail, restaurant, andliquor sales.) This is true for many conventional casino games in whichthe house participates in the wager, including games such as roulette,craps, blackjack, and slot machines.

Poker-style games thus differ from many of the traditional casino gamesin that the house does not participate in the wager. In a poker game agroup of participants bet amongst each other. The risk of any particularoutcome is distributed amongst the participants without participation bythe house. The casino generally charges a fee in order to facilitate thepoker game and profits in that manner. Thus, it would generally bedesired to devise a method by which the casino might participate in thepoker wager itself, in order to profit from the inherent probabilitiesthat might be constructed to favor the house.

Further, there is an ongoing need in the gaming industry to continue toimprove and refine games. The public's interest in a given game cansometimes increase or decrease in popularity. Some games fall out ofpopularity, potentially lessening business for the casino. Thus there isan ongoing need to continue to improve games in order to continue theirpopularity. There is an ongoing need to refine and improve thepoker-style game in order to maintain its popularity.

Further, the gaming public is generally attracted to high payouts. Eventhough the odds of winning may be very small, the betting public will beattracted to a game with a potential for a very high payout. Forexample, many members of the public, who never typically play thelottery, will participate in a state lottery once the jackpot reaches avery large amount. There is a certain degree of attractiveness to thepotential for a very large payout that is demonstrated by the lotteryphenomenon that the number of players increases when the jackpot sizeincreases. It would thus be desired to add a high payout element to thegame of poker in order to attract increased betting on the game.

Hence there has been identified a need to provide an improved method andmeans for betting with respect to poker-style casino games. It would bedesired to provide a method of wagering in such a game in which thecasino participates directly in a wager that is affected by the outcomeof the game. It would further be desired to refine and improve thepoker-style game in order to maximize its attractiveness. Moreover, itwould be desired that any modification to the poker game retain thegame's underlying structure and traditional appeal. The presentinvention addresses one or more of these needs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, and by way ofexample only, there is provided a method of betting in poker-stylecasino games, particularly Texas Hold'Em. In the preferred embodiment abet, also called a side bet or bonus bet, is placed by each participantin the poker game before a hand is dealt. The poker game then proceedsas usual. With respect to Texas Hold'Em, each player is dealt twopersonal cards, and then five community cards are dealt face up.Standard poker bets can proceed, as is done in the prior art, while thepoker hand is resolved. Then, once the primary game is complete, theside bet is evaluated. In the side bet, an individual's seven card handis evaluated in one of several ways. In one embodiment, the player withthe best seven card hand is determined the winner.

Other independent features and advantages of the embodiments of thepoker side bet wagering method will become apparent from the followingdetailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of theinvention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a chart showing the rank order of hands created from sevencards, according to a first embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 2 is chart showing steps in a method for implementing the pokerside bet, according to a further embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The following detailed description of the invention is merely exemplaryin nature and is not intended to limit the invention or the applicationand uses of the invention. Furthermore, there is no intention to bebound by any theory presented in the preceding background of theinvention or the following detailed description of the invention.Reference will now be made in detail to exemplary embodiments of theinvention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings. Wherever possible, common reference numbers are usedthroughout the multiple figures.

A typical poker game that is based on or comprising seven (7) cards fromwhich to construct a final hand consists of the play of a series ofpoker hands. In each poker hand a player receives seven cards from whichto constitute a five card poker hand. Two cards are dealt individuallyto the player, and the remaining five cards are group/community cardswhich all players use commonly. The poker side bet is placed before anycards are dealt for the primary poker hand. The poker side bet or bonusbet can be indicated by placing betting coins in a specified location onthe betting table that is reserved for that player's side bet. Thus, thepresence of chips indicates a bet in that amount. The absence of anychip indicates no bet for that hand. The time for side betting is thenconcluded, and the dealer proceeds to deal cards for the poker hand.Alternatively, once the first down card has been dealt, no poker sidebets will be accepted. The play of the hand then proceeds. The pokerhand is then resolved as per the existing poker game with individualplayers betting against other players.

At the conclusion of the poker hand, the poker side bet is thenresolved. The side bet is resolved per a payout schedule.

An advantage of the payout schedule as described in the preferredembodiment of the invention is that it allows the casino to increase ormaximize its earnings from gaming. The casino can adjust payouts inorder to induce unsophisticated bettors to place side bets. For example,the casino can award very high payouts for those hands which are leastlikely to occur. This may attract unsophisticated bettors when, againfor example, it may appear that a very large winning will occur for arelatively low bet, perhaps a minimum bet of one dollar for example. Inreality, given the probability of a certain hand occurring, the casinowill win many of the side bets while rarely paying off for the highaward hands. The payouts will be set such that according to statisticalprobability the casinos earnings from the side bet will more than offsetits expenses from payouts. Examples of a hand which might be awarded avery high payout include the 7 card straights: 7 card straight, 7 cardflush, 7 card straight flush, and 7 card royal flush. Nevertheless, asan inducement to bettors, the winnings for these unlikely hands can beset high.

In one embodiment the casino can require a minimum amount side bet.Alternatively, the side bet can be any amount. The payout schedule canbe a set amount for a given bet, or alternatively, the payout can becalculated as a percentage or multiple of the player's bet.

In one embodiment, the casino will recognize the following hands aspotential payouts:

-   -   Pair    -   2 pair    -   3 pairs    -   3 of a kind    -   3 of a kind+pair (full house)    -   3 of a kind+2 pairs    -   Double 3 of a kind (two sets of 3 of a kind)    -   4 of a kind    -   4 of a kind+pair    -   4 of a kind+3 of a kind    -   5 card straight    -   5 card flush    -   5 card straight flush    -   5 card royal flush    -   6 card straight    -   6 card flush    -   6 card straight flush    -   6 card royal flush    -   7 card straight    -   7 card flush    -   7 card straight flush    -   7 card royal flush

In the application of this payout schedule, the casino states how much,if anything, will be awarded for each such hand. Thus, for example, thecasino may pay nothing for hands lower than a full house. Above a fullhouse in the ranking, the casino may make progressively larger payouts.And, as noted before, the casino may award enticingly large payouts forthose hands that are more difficult to achieve. In total effect, thepayout schedule encourages side betting while also setting the payoutsuch that the casino statistically profits from any bet.

It is noted that the side bet is placed before any card is dealt. Thus,from a statistical standpoint, a player's chance of forming a given handhas not yet been determined. No cards have been dealt. In this way thehouse can be assured that the statistical model it has applied to thepayout schedule will be in effect. Thus, the casino is also assured thatany bet is a profitable bet from the casino's perspective. It is furthernoted that allowing the side bet to take place, after the two personalcards have been distributed, will alter the odds table. After receivingtwo down cards the player can make a more informed decision as towhether the odds favor a side bet or not. Thus, it is to the advantageof the casino to require side betting before any cards are distributed.

The payout schedule is thus dependant on what the odds or probability isfor forming each hand in the payout schedule. For a 52 card standardcard deck, the rank order of hands, from the least likely to the mostlikely, of such hands described above are as follows:

-   -   Seven card Royal flush    -   Seven card straight flush    -   Six card Royal flush    -   Four of a kind with three of a kind    -   Six card straight flush    -   Five card Royal flush    -   Seven card flush    -   Four of a kind and one pair    -   Five card straight flush    -   Two sets of three of a kind    -   Three of a kind and two pairs    -   Seven card straight    -   Four of a kind    -   Six card flush    -   Six card straight    -   Three pairs    -   Full house    -   Five card flush    -   Five card straight    -   Three of a kind    -   Two pairs    -   One pair        This rank ordering of hands is also shown in FIG. 1. The rank        ordering of these hands means that those hands at the top of the        list, such as the 7 card royal flush, are least likely to occur.        Those hands moving toward the bottom, such as one pair, are the        most likely to occur. Thus, the payout table will generally        award little or no return for the high probability hands while        generally awarding significantly more for the low probability        hands. In a preferred embodiment, the casino/house publishes and        displays a pay out schedule for each of these hands.

The casino constructs the payout table having in mind break evenprobabilities. The house/casino will set the betting rewards in a mannerthat favors the house. As suggested before, it may be desirable for thecasino to inflate the rewards for those hands which have a more remotechance of being created. Similarly, the casino may skew the rewardstoward the casino for those hands which are more likely to be formed.

In a further embodiment, the betting pool that constitutes the side betis progressive. That is to say the prize pool builds until a winningevent occurs.

In a further embodiment, observers of the primary poker game, that is tosay bettors who are not players or participants in the poker game, maythemselves place a side bet on a given player's hand. Thus, for examplein high stakes tournament play, once the number of tournamentparticipants has been winnowed down to a desired number, say a dozentables or so, the hosting casino may wish to open the side betopportunities to observers. This could be a way of enhancing interestand entertainment value towards the end of the poker tournament. It mayfurther be a way for the casino to continue to profit from play from anextended number of bettors even though the number of actual participantsin the poker hand continues to decrease as the tournament progresses. Itis noted that both non-players as well as individual players can placeside bets on a given player's hand (if house rules allow).

In the preferred embodiment, the outcome of the primary poker game hasno bearing on the payout of the side bet. Even if a player folds orloses the primary game, the side bet is still alive and is resolvedafter resolution of the hand. If a hand is not played out fully, thecasino may develop house rules that a) the remaining community cardswill be dealt/shown, or b) the bet will be returned to the player

Having described the invention from a structural format, a method ofapplying or utilizing the invention will now be described. In a firstexample, and referring generally to FIG. 2, there are five players and adealer positioned at a poker table, and the game proceeds as follows. Ata time between hands, the table is opened to the players to place a sidebet on the upcoming hand. The dealer may announce this or it may beallowed by custom. In order to make a side bet each player positionschips in the desired amount on a spot proximate to the player that isreserved to indicate a side bet. The side bet is optional. If a TexasHold'Em game is being played, the players may also make an ante betwhich applies to the poker game. Once each player has placed his sidebet (if any) and ante bet (if any) the dealer proceeds to deal the pokerhand. After two down cards or personal cards have been dealt to each ofthe players, betting proceeds with respect to those cards. Player onefolds at this point. Players two, three, four, and five continueplaying. Note that at this point while player one now has no chance ofwinning the poker pot for that hand, his side bet remains alive. Thedealer then deals three community cards or up cards, and the next roundof betting proceeds. At this point player two folds. At this point,player two has no chance of winning the poker pot, but player two's sidebet also remains alive. The dealer deals a fourth community card andbetting proceeds. At this point, player three folds. Player three cannotwin the poker pot, but his side bet remains alive. The dealer then dealsa fifth and final up card. Betting now proceeds between the remainingactive players, players four and five. Player five wins the poker handand takes the poker pot. At this point, the traditional poker hand hasbeen completed. Now, the dealer proceeds to resolve the side bets forall five of the players. Each of the players now makes his best possiblehand with his two personal cards as well as the five community cards.The player shows his personal cards to the dealer so that the dealer canconfirm the player's hand. The best possible hand is then compared withthe payout table. Whatever payout is posted for the player's handdetermines the player's payout. The dealer resolves each side bet, cardsare returned to the dead pile, and the hand or round of play has beenconcluded. The dealer can now open up betting for the next round ofplay.

In the above example it will be noted that it is necessary for a playerto reveal his down cards in order to participate in and resolve the sidebet at the conclusion of the poker hand. This is different from manypoker games (without the side bet) in which a player is allowed to turnin his down cards without revealing what they were. Thus in a live playpoker game with the side bet option, a player must decide at thebeginning of his hand whether or not he will place the side bet. Thismay affect a player's bluffing strategy in live play as he knows that hemust show the down cards to resolve the bet. However in internet orelectronic play, this can be resolved differently. In electronic play aplayer who has folded can have his side bet evaluated by the computer atthe end of play in a manner that does not reveal the personal cards tothe other players. Alternatively, the program can be set so that alldown cards are revealed at the end of the hand. However, in order tomore closely mimic live play, it is preferred that in the electronicgame the down cards of a player who has folded are not shown to theopposing players.

In a second example, an electronic poker game proceeds among fiveremotely positioned players. At some point between hands, the computerprompts each player to place a side bet. The player can accept or denythe side bet request. Play does not proceed for a given player until theplayer responds to the side bet prompt. In one embodiment, if the playerhas failed to respond to the side bet prompt for a given period of time,the computer program cashes out the player from the game. After each ofthe five players has responded to the side bet prompt, the poker gameproceeds as is normally done. Ante bets, if required, are placed. Eachplayer receives two personal cards. A round of betting proceeds. Threecommunity cards are then dealt/displayed. A round of betting proceeds.The fourth community card is dealt/displayed, and a round of bettingproceeds. Finally, the fifth community cared is dealt/displayed, and thefinal round of betting proceeds. The poker hand is resolved. After thepoker hand has been resolved, the computer program then resolves eachindividual player's side bet. In the electronic embodiment, if a playerhas placed a side bet at the beginning of play, the computerautomatically creates the best hand for that player from the player'stwo personal cards and the five community cards. The computer thencompares that best hand to the payout schedule for that game. Thecomputer debits or credits the player according to the payout schedule.However, the program/computer does so in such a manner that the downcards are not revealed to other players for those individual players whofolded prior to the conclusion of the poker hand. The program does so inthat the down cards from a folded hand are not shown/displayed to theother players

In a third example, illustrating a further embodiment of the invention,a single player plays a hand of poker by interacting with an individualpoker machine. In this style of play the human player can select variousoptions such as the number of players. However, as an option for one ormore style of play, the machine is programmed to offer the side bet tothe player. As illustrated before, the player makes the side bet wagerprior to commencement of the poker hand. The side bet is evaluated atthe conclusion of the poker hand by the computer/machine. Since there isonly one human player, there is no need to conceal the player's downcards when evaluating his poker hand.

It should be noted that the side bet is evaluated with regard to eachplayer regardless of how the player fared in the poker hand itself. Forexample, a player who was bluffed into folding, and has a higher handthan the hand which won the poker hand, will still receive the payoutthat his hand merits. Presumably this would be a higher side bet payoutthan what the winning hand (from the poker hand) receives from its ownside bet. Also, there is no need to resolve ties as is done in the pokerhand by reference to kicker cards. Players with equal hands receiveequal payouts from their side bet.

Throughout the above description, the card game has often been describedas a poker game of game of Texas Hold'Em. However, it will beappreciated that the invention is applicable to any card game in which aplayer forms a best hand using 7 cards which are a combination ofpersonal cards and community cards. Thus, the side bet invention isapplicable to any 7 card poker game. The side bet is placed before anindividual poker hand proceeds or is dealt. Other games involving 7cards (or more) can also make use of the side bet.

While the invention has been described with reference to a preferredembodiment or embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in theart that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substitutedfor elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention.In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particularsituation or material to the teachings of the invention withoutdeparting from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intendedthat the invention not be limited to a particular embodiment disclosedas the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but thatthe invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope ofthe appended claims.

1. A method of betting on a hand in a seven card game comprising thesteps of: a player placing a side bet with the house with respect to thehand; playing the hand of the card game to its conclusion; and resolvingthe player's side bet with the house.
 2. The method according to claim 1wherein the step of a player placing a side bet further comprises aplayer placing a side bet at the beginning of the hand.
 3. The methodaccording to claim 1 further comprising the steps of: the player forminghis optimum hand from seven cards and comparing the optimum hand to apayout schedule.
 4. The method according to claim 1 wherein the step ofa player placing a side bet further includes the player placing markerson a table location in order to indicate the side bet.
 5. The methodaccording to claim 1 wherein the step of a player placing a side betfurther includes the player responding to a computer prompt in order toindicate the side bet.
 6. The method according to claim 3 wherein thepayout schedule follows the following rank order of hands, highest tolowest: Seven card Royal flush Seven card straight flush Six card Royalflush Four of a kind with three of a kind Six card straight flush Fivecard Royal flush Seven card flush Four of a kind and one pair Five cardstraight flush Two sets of three of a kind Three of a kind and two pairsSeven card straight Four of a kind Six card flush Six card straightThree pairs Full house Five card flush Five card straight Three of akind Two pairs One pair
 7. The method according to claim 1 furthercomprising the step of a non-player placing a side bet wager.
 8. Amethod of wagering in a seven card poker-style card game comprising thesteps of: first a player placing a side bet with the house prior to anycards being dealt; dealing the cards of the hand; placingplayer-to-player wagers as desired by the players; resolving the winnerof the hand; resolving the side bet between the individual player andthe house.
 9. The method of wagering according to claim 8 furthercomprising the step of resolving the side bet with respect to apublished payout table.
 10. The method according to claim 9 wherein thepayout table follows the following rank order of hands, highest tolowest: Seven card Royal flush Seven card straight flush Six card Royalflush Four of a kind with three of a kind Six card straight flush Fivecard Royal flush Seven card flush Four of a kind and one pair Five cardstraight flush Two sets of three of a kind Three of a kind and two pairsSeven card straight Four of a kind Six card flush Six card straightThree pairs Full house Five card flush Five card straight Three of akind Two pairs One pair
 11. The method of wagering according to claim 8wherein the step of placing a side bet is done by placing a marker on aplaying table.
 12. The method of wagering according to claim 8 furthercomprising the step of resolving the side bet between the individualplayer and the house regardless of whether the individual player has wonthe hand of play.
 13. The method of wagering according to claim 8further comprising the step of an individual player preparing hisoptimal hand for resolving the side bet.
 14. The method of wageringaccording to claim 8 wherein the house comprises a casino.
 15. Themethod of wagering according to claim 8 wherein the method of play isconducted via the interne.
 16. The method of wagering according to claim8 wherein the method of play is conducted via a single-player computer.17. The method of wagering according to claim 8 wherein the method ofplay is conducted via a multiple-player computer.
 18. The method ofwagering according to claim 8 further comprising the step of increasingthe side bet payout to the individual based on the complexity of thehand prepared by the individual player.
 19. A casino game involving theplay of a poker-style card game in which the house participates in thewagering of the game, the game comprising the following steps: anindividual player first places a side bet with the house; the cards aredealt; a player forms his optimal hand regardless whether the playerwins the hand; the winner of the hand is determined; an individual'sside bet with the house is resolved based on the player's optimal hand.20. The casino game according to claim 19 further comprising the step ofincreasing the side bet payout to the individual player based on thecomplexity of the hand prepared by the individual player.